Defying a blinding snow storm, a Coast Guard HH-3 "Pelican" helicopter searches for distressed mariners off Elizabeth City, North Carolina. The beacon of a lighthouse fights to pierce the blanket of white. The HH-3 was the last of the Coast Guard amphibious helicopters. The medium range, twin engine amphibian carried a sophisticated rotary wing avionics package, cruised at 120 knots, and was capable of reaching 142 knots. It had a normal crew of pilot, co-pilot, navigator, flight mechanic, and could carry up to twenty passengers.
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